How/where would you get an engine built ?

[Scott]

It's amazing what a search could bring up results! haha.. South West Lotus Center in UK, offer FORGED PISTON KIT from normal to 81mm. 81.5 was my mistake http://www.ebay.com/itm/LOTUS-ELAN-M100 ... MAEXnIuNmA

1000euro were for labour and parts needed inside engine/piston/crankshaft bearings and springs etc and also for sanding up the exhaust manifold which had a couple of little hair cracks, not important but for not having problems in future and oil/air/gas filters and oil/water fluids etc and cleaning/machining the engine block, piston area, pistons etc.
The rest 1500 were for OEM Lotus parts like water pumps, recirculating pump, hall effect sensor, all coolant hoses, all gaskets, new belts (all belts) and some more which I don't remember.
The engine didn't came out.
Now I have bought a new aluminum radiator from coolex and a new sport exhaust from pnm, also waiting for 16'' big brake kit and AVO shocks from pnm, getting the amber's samco kit as improvement and I think I'm done !
I also got the 15'' OZ wheels so my car will be plug'n'play as I have both 16 bbs and 15'' oz wheels, I have got all car's books, notes and articles and my car's value will go up up up up!!!

[Brit-Car-Nut]

So, 1,000 euro for parts in engine AND labor while the pistons cost 800 euro? And the engine wasn't removed?

Sorry, but that is NOT an engine overhaul. An overhaul includes full machining which requires the engine being removed and all new parts including pistons, bearings, oil pump and gaskets.

The labor alone should have been over 1,000.00 euros due to the tight tolerances required. You appear to need a new calculator, or you didn't get what you think. Even using the current currency conversion rates, unless someone did the labor for free and reused most parts, it can' be done. Sorry.

[dapinky]

..... An overhaul includes full machining which requires the engine being removed and all new parts including pistons, bearings, oil pump and gaskets.

John,

not always the case. Whilst it is (undoubtedly) easier for the machine work to be done out of the car, it is possible to re-bore the block in situ. When Paul Watkins had his NMY elan the head was stripped in his garage, but the block stayed in the car. A specialist company came to the house and re-bored it in situ, before finishing up with new pistons , rings etc (and a crank rebuild).

Now, don't get me wrong, I wouldn't advocate it being done that way - and the cost wasn't low - but it is possible.

(but NOT for a grand!)

[Scott]

So, 1,000 euro for parts in engine AND labor while the pistons cost 800 euro? And the engine wasn't removed?

Sorry, but that is NOT an engine overhaul. An overhaul includes full machining which requires the engine being removed and all new parts including pistons, bearings, oil pump and gaskets.

The labor alone should have been over 1,000.00 euros due to the tight tolerances required. You appear to need a new calculator, or you didn't get what you think. Even using the current currency conversion rates, unless someone did the labor for free and reused most parts, it can' be done. Sorry.

I never said that I bought new pistons. I didn't have to buy new, mine were perfect, just cleaned out. The machining did happen as it was next to my house. I paid for the rest. My engine was perfect we only changed springs bearings and some other stuff which don't know how you call them. I have wrote up what I did, read more carefully.
The rest was mine and cost me 1500 euro so in total 2.500 euro. The engine didn't have to come out.

[Scott]

..... An overhaul includes full machining which requires the engine being removed and all new parts including pistons, bearings, oil pump and gaskets.

John,

not always the case. Whilst it is (undoubtedly) easier for the machine work to be done out of the car, it is possible to re-bore the block in situ. When Paul Watkins had his NMY elan the head was stripped in his garage, but the block stayed in the car. A specialist company came to the house and re-bored it in situ, before finishing up with new pistons , rings etc (and a crank rebuild).

Now, don't get me wrong, I wouldn't advocate it being done that way - and the cost wasn't low - but it is possible.

(but NOT for a grand!)

Consider the crisis in Greece people.. also I did exactly what you said above without new crankshaft, pistons. I didn't have to change those parts they were very good! My car had only 159.000km (not miles)

[Brit-Car-Nut]

..... An overhaul includes full machining which requires the engine being removed and all new parts including pistons, bearings, oil pump and gaskets.

John,

not always the case. Whilst it is (undoubtedly) easier for the machine work to be done out of the car, it is possible to re-bore the block in situ. When Paul Watkins had his NMY elan the head was stripped in his garage, but the block stayed in the car. A specialist company came to the house and re-bored it in situ, before finishing up with new pistons , rings etc (and a crank rebuild).

Now, don't get me wrong, I wouldn't advocate it being done that way - and the cost wasn't low - but it is possible.

(but NOT for a grand!)

Consider the crisis in Greece people.. also I did exactly what you said above without new crankshaft, pistons. I didn't have to change those parts they were very good! My car had only 159.000km (not miles)

HOWEVER, the Original Poster wanted to know about an engine rebuild, not a refreshment. I know you can bore a block in situ - most big truck engines are done that way, but not in that kind of price range. I am not sure what the crisis in Greece has to do with anything. People need to get paid for their work and if work became scarce, most would have to charge more to make up for the lost business.

I answered the post because, after research, I realized that a LOT of the normal parts needed for a real engine rebuild are obsolete or very hard to find and more than expensive. I was also trying to suggest that regular maintenance should be performed as needed to minimize the need for a major overhaul.

[dapinky]

John,

I wasn't saying that you were wrong - quite the opposite.

There is a big difference between a set of rings and shells, and a full re-build.

A rebuild suggests (to me, anyway) that the block is machined for new (oversize) pistons, or new liners if standard pistons are used, and the crank is worked (if necessary) for the new shells. All con-rods are checked/replaced as necesary. Gudgen pins may or may not be replaced as required, new oil pump (or recon of old one), all pulleys, belts etc replaced, water pump replaced. All parts balanced as required and the whole lot reassembled (probably more than once to ensure tollerances are met)...... and that is without any work to the head.

As a minimum, I would expect all valves to be removed, all guides checked/replaced as necessary, valves re-cut, seats re-cut/lapped in. Springs checked (and hydraulic lifters), re-faced surfaces, possible cam bearings, new oil seals (valve stems/cams), pressure testing etc.

There are a lot of hours of labour, and whilst it may be at a cheap rate, it will still be a lot of hours & parts.

Anything less than this is either a 'refresh' if just the bearing shells/rings are replaced, and the bores re-honed, or perhaps a 'partial rebuild' if more is done.

.... you pays your money, and makes your choice.

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Dave, I understood your post. Not a problem for me. I am still looking for more affordable quality parts...

[Scott]

John,

I wasn't saying that you were wrong - quite the opposite.

There is a big difference between a set of rings and shells, and a full re-build.

A rebuild suggests (to me, anyway) that the block is machined for new (oversize) pistons, or new liners if standard pistons are used, and the crank is worked (if necessary) for the new shells. All con-rods are checked/replaced as necesary. Gudgen pins may or may not be replaced as required, new oil pump (or recon of old one), all pulleys, belts etc replaced, water pump replaced. All parts balanced as required and the whole lot reassembled (probably more than once to ensure tollerances are met)...... and that is without any work to the head.

As a minimum, I would expect all valves to be removed, all guides checked/replaced as necessary, valves re-cut, seats re-cut/lapped in. Springs checked (and hydraulic lifters), re-faced surfaces, possible cam bearings, new oil seals (valve stems/cams), pressure testing etc.

There are a lot of hours of labour, and whilst it may be at a cheap rate, it will still be a lot of hours & parts.

Anything less than this is either a 'refresh' if just the bearing shells/rings are replaced, and the bores re-honed, or perhaps a 'partial rebuild' if more is done.

.... you pays your money, and makes your choice.

This is what I did, I just don't know all words in English for the mechanical meanings. I did everything but I didn't buy new pistons and crankshaft. All all all other things are new and the block was machined all the way down.

[David Segal 2]

Need to have my M100 engine, turbo and garbox rebuilt.
Suggestions please for where to send it (in uk preferably!!).
unless someone is ready to sell a "new" engine as was available from the factory about 10 years ago.

[Simon_P]

Are you sure that it needs rebuilding?

[Rambo]

Need to have my M100 engine, turbo and garbox rebuilt.
Suggestions please for where to send it (in uk preferably!!).
unless someone is ready to sell a "new" engine as was available from the factory about 10 years ago.

Where are you based? If you live in the Berwick on Tweed area I'd say Border Engines. Stuart is a great engineer